Ruling in Richard Alarcon residency case expected

A key hearing in the high-profile felony case against City Councilman Richard Alarcon and his wife, Flora Montes de Oca, is expected to conclude this week.

In a closely-watched ruling likely to impact Alarcon's political future, Judge M.L. Villar de Longoria will decide whether to dismiss the case or send it to trial.

A decision could come as soon as Tuesday.

The ruling could affect Alarcon's bid for the 39th Assembly seat in November.

"Obviously, it's not having a positive impact on my campaign," said Alarcon, speaking outside the courtroom Monday. "Hopefully people believe that you are innocent until proven guilty."

In May, District Attorney Steve Cooley filed two dozen counts against the Alarcons, maintaining the couple lied about their Panorama City residency so Richard Alarcon could run for the 7th District council seat in the Northeast Valley.

Alarcon and his wife said they lived in the home on Nordhoff Street, but were temporarily staying elsewhere while work was being done on their home.

Then, a transient moved into the house, causing safety concerns, they said.

The preliminary hearing in their case started in August, but didn't run continuously, as both sides presented evidence to the judge.

The prosecution focused on detectives' testimony about inactivity and piled-up newspapers at the house, while the defense called on both Alarcon's cousin and longtime secretary, who said they attended parties at the house.

For Alarcon, the decision on whether the case is dismissed or goes to trial comes at a critical time.

A dismissal of the case would help his standing among voters in the 39th Assembly race, where he is battling Raul Bocanegra, an aide to Assemblyman Felipe Fuentes. Both men advanced to the Nov. 5 election after winning the top two spots in the June primary.

While the councilman remains popular in neighborhoods, people are apprehensive about choosing sides when there's the possibility Alarcon could go to jail, said Edwin Ramirez, a member of the Pacoima Neighborhood Council.

Some operators of non-profits and small businesses are afraid of going public with support for Alarcon because they worry they will have "burned political bridges with Bocanegra," Ramirez said.

If a trial is ordered, it likely wouldn't start until after the November election.

On Monday, both defense and prosecutors were optimistic the judge would rule in their favor.

"I feel good about it," said Mark Overland, attorney for Alarcon's wife, Flora.

"There is not a shred of evidence the Alarcons lived there," Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Lentz Snyder said.